Have you ever wondered how web developers create such sunning websites? Here’s what the web development process actually looks like in practice.
Nearly 40% of people will stop engaging with a poorly designed website. In fact, 38.5% of people judge a business based on a glance at their website.
Poor user experiences can drive 50% of visitors to choose one of your competitors. Meanwhile, conversions drop by 20% per second of load time. Without a fast, optimized website, you could lose customers.
Instead, take the time to learn more about the web development process this year. You can start planning a new site designed with your customers in mind. Then, you can hire the best web developer around to turn your plans into a reality.
Improving your website could set your entire digital marketing strategy up for success.
Read on to learn more about the website design and development process today!
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Research
One of the biggest mistakes you can make during the web development process is neglecting to gather research. Without research, you’ll only make assumptions when developing your site. The assumptions you make could impact your success.
For example, you might not make a website that appeals to your ideal customers. Your target audience might decide to choose one of your competitors instead.
Before that can happen, take the time to learn as much as you can about your target audience. If you’re targeting a large group, segment your audience into personas. Group your customers based on demographics and psychographics.
For example, you might consider their age, gender, or location. Perhaps you’re focused on people who make more money. Maybe you’re grouping customers based on pain points instead.
Understanding your audience is key to designing and developing a website that meets their expectations.
Consider the purpose of your website, too. What are you hoping to accomplish?
For example, you might want to generate more leads and form submissions. In that case, focus on conversion opportunities. You can create lead magnets or use pop-up forms on your site.
If you want to boost your search engine rankings, focus on meeting Google’s Core Web Vitals. You can create a website designed to help you rank higher on Google. Higher rankings can help you generate more traffic and leads.
Establishing your goals and researching your audience will help you make more informed design decisions.
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Planning
The planning stage of the website design process includes creating a sitemap and wireframe.
The sitemap will help you picture the inner structure of the website. It doesn’t describe the user interface, though.
The best web developer will help you build a user-friendly website that’s easy to navigate. A positive user experience will encourage people to continue exploring your site.
A wireframe or mock-up is a visual representation of the user interface. It describes specific elements and where they’re positioned on each page. The wireframe doesn’t include design elements like colors or logos, though.
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Design
Nearly 50% of people say a website’s design is the top factor they consider when determining if a business is credible.
As part of the web development process, you’ll need to consider how everything looks on the front end.
If your website doesn’t look and function properly, people might leave.
A small business owner knows the importance of planning before execution. This stage of the website design process helps your site take shape. You can determine which images, photos, and videos will appear on your website.
The best web developer will consider your target audience during this stage.
Each page layout will help you visualize the content and structure of each page. It can demonstrate the page’s basic functionality, too.
Consider the logos, images, and colors that will appear on each page.
Make sure to review each page layout thoroughly before giving the developer approval. You can repeat this stage until you’re completely satisfied.
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Content Writing
Strong content can help turn website visitors into leads or paying customers.
Make sure your website content helps consumers understand your brand, business, or offerings. Add strong call to action language to convert visitors into sales.
Content writing includes catchy headlines, buttons, and product pages as well. You can also edit existing text or create new text.
Make sure to provide the website developer with text before they begin the coding stage.
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Development
At this stage of the web development process, your developer will start coding and creating the site. They’ll often start with the homepage before proceeding to internal pages.
They’ll also implement any frameworks and CMS.
Talk to your developer about using the Best Hosting for WordPress during this phase.
The developer should test any static page elements created during the mock-up phase at this point. Then, they can start adding special features and interactivity.
The best web developer will also understand the connection between development, design, and search engine optimization (SEO). SEO can improve your search engine rankings. Valid code is an important component of effective SEO. If you want to switch to SEO services then must check Arizona real estate SEOs switching to Showcase IDX.
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Testing and Launch
Once the coding phase is complete, your developer can start testing and reviewing your site.
They’ll need to test every link across your site to ensure none of the links are broken. They’ll also need to test forms and scripts. Spell-checking software can search for possible typos as well.
Your developer might also use code validators to ensure your code meets current web standards.
Once the review process is complete, the developer can upload your site to the server. A File Transfer Protocol (FTP) software is used at this stage.
Once they deploy the files, they’ll run another test to ensure everything is installed correctly.
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Maintenance
Your website will require routine maintenance over the years. You might also need to update plugins, the theme, or content. If there are any problems, it’s important to fix the issue as soon as possible.
Otherwise, bugs, security risks, and other errors can impact the user experience.
The Web Development Process: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing Site
The web development process doesn’t have to feel stressful. Instead, make sure you’re working with the best web developer around. They’ll simplify this entire process for you.
With their help, you can create a stunning website with your customers in mind.
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